(Montreal) The housing crisis has become the most frequent cause of mental health problems for psychiatric patients in Quebec, according to a survey by the Regroupement des Ressources Alternatives en Santé Mentale au Québec (RRASMQ).
This is what the organization indicated on Sunday during a press conference held in partnership with the Regroupement des committees logement et associations de tenants du Québec (RCLALQ).
The two groups presented an open letter addressed directly to François Legault and which will be published in the media on Tuesday.
Within it, more than 300 organizations specializing in housing or mental health are imploring the Prime Minister of Quebec, François Legault, to take concrete measures to resolve the housing crisis.
There is currently no glimmer of hope, said Cédric Dussault, spokesperson and co-coordinator at RCLALQ.
He notices “more and more despair among tenants who contact housing committees and tenant associations”.
According to him, the increase in mental health problems is a consequence of the housing crisis.
High rents, evictions and unsanitary housing can cause anxiety, depression and insomnia, which can lead to suicidal thoughts, inform the RCLALQ and the RRASMQ.
The RRASMQ surveyed 35 resource organizations present in the field to arrive at these conclusions.